December 27, 2011

Jones: Smith has been best rookie, could move to left tackle in 2012

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said rookie right tackle Tyron Smith has more than lived up to expectations this season as the team’s 9th overall pick.

Not only has he been the Cowboys best rookie but he has also been the team’s best offensive lineman who gets better every week.

He was beaten for two sacks in the first game against Eagles defensive end Jason Babin. But on Saturday he held Babin, who was the league leader in sacks, to none in the 20-7 loss to the Eagles.

"Well I will tell you, Tyron Smith has been everything that we had hoped for when we drafted him," Jones said on his weekly radio show on KRLD-FM Tuesday morning. "Of course, we drafted him high. He was the No. 1 pick. He sits in there at right tackle. He was challenged here and you might say had his hardest outing against Philadelphia last weekend, but still he's played well. You couldn't go too far past him on our team."

Jones said Smith’s play has given the Cowboys a lot of options, including moving him to left tackle and sending the struggling Doug Free back to right tackle next season.

Jones said they just want to focus on the Giants right now.

"Let's go with what we've got. All that counts is this weekend," Jones said. "And I'm not trying to be coy about it, but we've got a lot of good options, and he gave us those options because he had the year he had."

while it is true that we overpaid for Doug Free think how bad our oline would be without him, there weren't any better options out there. Thank goodness we took smith in the first round, we need to keep drafting o linemen until it is a strength.

So Clarence..when will Jerry pay Smith offensive left tackle money?..Most..including the D/FW area media.. wanted Jerry to cut Flozell Adams and put Doug Free in that spot. Then most..including the D/FW area media..wanted Jerry to pay Free left tackle money after ONE good year in that spot. Well..after what I have witnessed this season..Doug Free has been the Cowboys worse offensive lineman and he is yet another player that Jerry has overpaid..When does the madness stop with Jerry signing guys to mega-deals who clearly are average at best.